Tobacco-user&#39;s article



T, E, RITCHIE TOBAQGQ USERS ARTICLE Filed Oct. 5; 1922 Apr. 7, 1925.

Applicaticn filed catcher a all whom it may concern:

3e it known that I, Tnoanis E. Rrrcnin, itizen of the United States, residing at in the county'o't Essex and State of lidassachusetts, 11-. vs invented certain new and usetul Improvements in Tobacco-Users Articles, of which the following is a specification.

'ii iis invention relates to a combined container and cutting device for plug tobacco.

A large percentage of pipe smokers find that plug tobacco gives them a sweeter and more satisfying smoke than fine cut tobacco, and they would use plug tobacco it it were not for the inconvenience of cutting the tobacco off the plug. It has not only the advantage over line out tobacco of being more mellow, but of holding the moisture more effectively and therefore keeping in better condition.

With these considerations in mind, it is the chief object of the present invention to devise an article which will facilitate the use of plug tobacco and which especially will overcome the objection above mentioned. v

The nature of the invention will be readily understood from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, and the novel features will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a container for a plug of tobacco equipped with cutting devices embodying the present invention; v

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary cross sectional view. on the line 33, Fig. 2; and

Fig. l is a perspective view showing the manner in which one of the cutters is supported in the box.

Ihe construction shown comprises a box 2 preferably made of sheet metal and having an open top. This top norinally'is closed by a cover 3, hinged to the back of the box at 1, and adapted to telescope the top of the box. The lower end of the box is closed by a telescoping bottom 5. This lJOi is of suitable dimensions to receive comtortably a small size plug of tobacco such as a tobacco user ordinarily carries. In to keep the tobacco in suitable ter per, the bottom of the box preferably conisaacea rarest caries- BEVERLY, MASSACHUSETTS.

, 1922. Serial No. 592,110.

tains a sheet of felt, blotting paper, or other absorbent material, indicated at 6, which is supported between the cover 5 and a pen pm 1 V LQLcLtQU metal plate 7 which overlies the end of the body 2 oi the box. The sheet 6 1s moistened and thus prevents evaporation tromthe plug of tobacco and supplies DflOlS-.

ture to it if itis too dry.

F or the purpose of cutting a pipeful of tobacco from the plug, the box shown is equipped with two cutters which are exactly alike so that one only need be described in detail. As shown, the cover 3 is providedwith a diagonal slot 8, one edge of this slot consisting of the toothed edge of a cutter 10. This cutter is L-shaped in cross section, as clearly shown in 'Fig. 3, the cutting portion lying horizontally, while its shank 12 is located in a vertical guideway formed in one wall of the cover by punching lugs 14: outwardly from the material of the cover. Normally the edge 10 lies below the edge 9 of the slot 8, as shown in Fig. 3, so that there is no danger of its cut ing the pocket or injuring any object with which it comes in contact. hen it is to be used, however, it is pushed into an upper position above the edge 9, as. shown in Fig. 2. The lowermost position'ot the cutter is determined by its striking the upper edge of the slot in the covert), while its upper position is determined by a lug or indentation 15, struck inwardly from the shank 12, engaging a notch 16 struck inwardly from the side wall of the cover 3. If desired the cutter can be pushed out or" the guideway and removed, and for this purpose the lower end of the shank 12 is flared outwardly, as shown at 16, to afford better hold for the lingers or thumb. V V In using this device, the plug of tobacco is placed on the top of the cover 3 and is drawn lengthwise of the cover from right to left, the cutter 10 at this time being in its upper position. Fig. 2 shows this relationship of the parts, the plug of tobacco being indicated in dotted lines at P. The movement of the tobacco against the out ter causes the teeth to cut oil an irregular or broken slice from the bottom of the plug, the shavings or cuttings falling through the slot 8 into the'boX, as shown at T, Fig. 2. These operations are repeated until the desired amount of tobacco has been cut from the plug. This tobacco is then emptied from the box into the pipe and does not need its to be rolled between the hands in the usrun manner preparatory the pin The plug is replacec in the box with an the eve is closed, and the s} cuttings, c r

cutter l0 pushed into its lowermost post The presence of the hruniditt 6 in the b drying o the tion again. inn elemer cuttinaz. fro-n d that the end ol' t o? prevents the ut. It should be 10 is turne box 2.

l e the teeth of or pretera bevelled on the so that. the cutter can )1 by ruboing a stone across xii :d, the bOX shown is providas ciearly illustrated in these two cutters slots o8, how- I inclined opposiel Lt.) ea .t the plug is drawn long'i 1e cor r 3 both cutters will 1 uslv on it. Usu- 1119 i and s u or when th cover is in its closed The of the box is cut away ened, SJOXYD at .24, Fig.

striking of matches. on be appreciated that iilllS'lllcrevices a convenient container for i which a suitable quantity of cut from the plug easily, pose of smoking or chewcuttcrs 10 or 20 being ed accordto he purpose for which the tobacco is p The device can be manufactured economically, the cu tors are readily kept sharp, and the cutting edges are so protected that thcreis no iger o't injuring the hands or clothing. l urtherinore, the con r keeps th tobacco in the proper condiher for the pm t tle i i ilil bodnnent of my invention which tar devised, it w ll readily be ap at all times.

l have herein shown and descrilcd 1,53aeo2 pniated that this embodiment may be 1nod e. in inanv particulars witl or" departing lb rroin the spirit or scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I desire to claim as new is: 1. An article of the character comprising a box of tobacco, said box having an open 1 a blade rernovably mounted in one i said box with its edge at the edge the so): and protecting the edge or said blade when the cover is in its ciosed pos1t on.

3. A11 article 0t the-character described, con'iprising a box adapted to contain'a plug of tobacco, said b0 havir an open .enc, a cover for said end havin aslot therein, and a toothed cutter forming one .edgedof said slot, said cutter being supported in, the cover for n'ioveinent into either aposition above or below the level of the opposite cc ct said slot.

l. An article of the characterdescribed, comprising a box adapted to contain a plug oitobacco, said box having an open end, a c YQl for said end having a slot therein, said Yer telescoping thelend or the lJOf-C. nd l avuideway torrned therein, an. 1

having. a

shank supported in said guideway and having a toothed cutting; edge torniing one edge 01" said slot, said cutter being movable up anddown in said guideway, and stops to limit the movement oi said Cutter in said guide-Way.

i-ln article of the character described. comprising a, container for plug of tobacco one wall of said container being made of metal. and having a slot therein, a toothed cutter located at one edge of said slot where by tobacco may be out from 'saidplug by drawing the plug across the teeth said cuttergendthe tobaccoso cut off will drop through saidslohand a downwardl directed part at one end of said cutter to deflect a box adaoted to contain a aluo' Y: 

